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Returning to the store room where Morin has ushered Jiriki and Dalrylshana with a more than usually sour look on his face, the party unite again and Jarek, with barely a pause, digs out a flask of oil from the store supplies and starts to spread it around the room. He is perhaps almost psychic as Morin warns with a forced whisper:

"We haven't got much time- the guards are on the way. We need to push back down the stairs. Quickly!"

Morin has heard some orders being given to elicit a search but has bought a little time, perhaps, by locking the north door. It is time to leave the stronghold!

Suva, even with time pressing is still very concerned about the trapped souls and does not want to leave without attempting to free them but frustratingly does not know how. Events charge ahead without him – Jarek shouting orders as he prepares to burn the store room.

Dalrylshana chooses not to hide a very sour look at Jarek's barked orders but she appreciates the necessity for swift action. Realising the speed limitiations with the two extra bodies and the unchecked treasure trove, she conjures an invisible ally to hold the Illuminatus before her. With the source of light moving ahead of her, it is nearer Morin, so he can stop using his own lantern and concentrate more easily on hasty, but safe, movement.

Suva's get his charge to his feet with a little help and chat from Dalrylshana before she then grabs the foul-smelling dwarf with a curse and helps him move along: the dwarf's feet are able to support him but rather keen to wander of haphazardly.

Morin sets off east down the corridor, Darius a little behind with Jax and one of the bags, then followed by Suva and Dalrylshana and the two erstwhile captives. Jiriki and Kin have the trunk between them which leaves an arm each free in case of danger and then Balin comes, carrying the small chest.

As soon as everybody is out of the store room, Jarek begins the blaze and then brings the second bag. The fire catches quickly and surprisingly noisily, bringing a roaring end to the whispers and silence - there is plenty of oil and wood to burn in the store room. Smoke starts to clog the air quickly and the party exits as fast as it can from the hot, nebulous clouds that belch into the corridor after them.After just a few moments a very angry voice from the western end of the corridor can be heard.

"Give me that key......Aaaargh. Damn this bloody door...Right! Break it down! NOW!".

At the corner Morin pauses momentarily, looking through the window at the turning. For a few uncomfortable seconds it is not clear what he is about to do but then, wordlessly, his hand drops from its halting gesture and he leads the party on along the corridor.

Dragging and carrying their various items, they make their way to the south door and the top of the stairs. Morin stands past the door and waves everybody to go ahead of him; Darius leads the careful decent down the stairs, pausing to help Dalrylshana so that she can give some concentration over to keeping the Illuminatus ahead of her properly only to find that she is being aided by Suva, as the demihuman, still quiet and looking troubled, is clearly more recovered and is now making his own way, carefully.

After a couple of minutes, most of the party is almost down the stairs.

Except Jarek, who has waited to keep watch at the turning. With the torches at this end of the corridor and Jarek's lantern, Morin and he can see each other without difficulty and Jarek moves to join the party, pausing for one tantalising second as he hurries down the corridor.

The party charges onwards as best they can but their speed is severely restricted by the booty and dwarf. Even with Kin now marvellously levitating the trunk on a three foot diameter magical disc, you are at less then running pace. Dalrylshana has dispelled her magical aid in order to carry the Illuminatus, as the spell-born helper can no longer keep up.

But still you make it safely to the lower floor and start heading onwards to the way out.

Moving as quickly as possible, the party hurtle towards the exit, made swifter by virtue of Suva picking up the demihuman as the corridor turns north and Kin's lightening of his load through magic. Morin, at the back of the party comes hammering around the corner to catch up with his comrades. The door on the south wall is reached and the party prepare to get through and then out of the stronghold - whether by luck or good planning, as Morin is the last to step into the room, nobody in pursuit has yet appeared around the corridor.

Just as you head for the secret exit there is a huge booming crash from the northwest and a dog-like howl echoes around the damp stone walls. Jarek is surprised as he thought he had heard the dog being killed when the party was split up – Suva, who has clearly been talking to the demi-human voices some information.

"Well, either we didn't actually kill it, or there is another one."

Gesturing towards the demihuman, he adds, "Our friend here may be able to provide some answers - he mentioned that we had to kill the dog to free the souls, and that they became trapped because they were killed by it. Thus we must be careful lest the same fate befall us. I suggest we rest, and we let him rest, then ask him some more."

As swiftly as the need for quiet will allow, the party move through the secret door into the small room beyond and then down through the trapdoor into the tunnel that leads out. Morin covers and confuses the tracks in the dust as best he can before shutting the door so that it becomes "invisible" again and then the party move along the long, meandering tunnel back to the waterfall - it is with great relief that they find the rope they had left still secured.

One by one, the rope aids them in getting out of the tunnel - Jarek and Morin are last to come out, securing the trunk with the rope so that it can be dragged up the simple climb and then bringing the smaller casket up between them.

Through the waterfall the day has brightened a little: it will be noon soon. The valley is as quiet as it was when first you arrived - quieter, since there is no orc here, and there is no sign or sound of pursuit yet.

Morin walks over to Suva and it becomes apparent why he called a pause at the corner upstairs, for he his intelligence to diseminate:

Whatever you decide to do, I'm with you, as I've already given my word, but the force we are up against may be stronger than you believe." [looks at the two newcomers] "Please also remember that our guests will likely as not perish, should anything befall us - we have to think of their wellfare too. Before I go and check back there, I'll let you know what forces I'm aware of. In the temple
beyond the second set of doors, there was a figure, possible the priest to that many tentacled beast of chaos, to which the temple is dedicated. We were chased by two ogres which were being followed by two other creatures, one was an orc, the like of which I've not seen before. He carried himself with confidence and authority, and he seemed possessed of far too much intelligence for my liking. I know not what force he commands, but I would guess that there are a lot more than we have seen or heard."

Having shared what he had seen and knew with the rest of the party, Morin bravely sets off to make sure you are not just about to be found.